Sourton Church Devon
Posted by: 
MoreOutdoor
N 50° 41.618 W 004° 04.450
30U E 424131 N 5616306
A small church right on the edge of Dartmoor, the sundial is over the entrance, facing the moor. Needless to say given the age of the church and facing the open moorland. the sundial is a little weather worn, but still intact.
Waymark Code: WMVHQV
Location: South West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/22/2017
Views: 3
The church and indeed the sundial, has a significance to the history of England.
When an off handed comment from the King (Henry) was taken as an order "will no one rid me of this turbulent priest!".Four knights took this comment literally, the loyalty of pleasing the King proceeded onto murdering the priest.
On the edge of Dartmoor, in the village of Sourton, St Thomas a Becket is a 14th Century church founded on an earlier settlement - going back before 970 when Aelfgyth was Chaplain and it was likely that there was a simple church building on the site. It was dedicated in honour of St. Thomas a Becket in the 14th Century by descendants of two knights who had taken part in the murder of Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 - Fitz Urse and William de Tracey, who were both Devon men. It appears that their successors may have wanted to clear their family names and appease their consciences by rededicating the church to the Christian martyr. The church at Sourton - on a hillside site with wonderful views from the churchyard
Sundial Type: Vertical - Wall mounted dial plate
Related Web Site: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
Only one log per location per person. You should log your own waymarked sundials as well.
GPS in photo optional.